John Mellencamp Dancing Words Tour-The Greatest hits open rehearsal artwork (Courtesy of John Mellencamp)
John Mellencamp is set to launch his Dancing Words Tour — The Greatest Hits, and he’s giving fans in his home state a chance to get a preview of his upcoming shows.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer has invited Indiana residents to come check out an open rehearsal at the Ford Center in Evansville on Wednesday from 5 p.m. CT to 9 p.m. CT.
The rehearsal is free, although in order to gain entry fans are asked to bring nonperishable items to donate to the Evansville Rescue Mission.
Tickets will be handed out on a first-come basis, with doors opening at 4:45 p.m. CT.
Mellencamp kicks off the Dancing Words Tour on Friday in Grand Rapids, Michigan, wrapping Aug. 12 in Mountain View, California.
When he announced the tour in January, Mellencamp promised fans he’ll be playing a set filled with hits, including “Jack and Diane,” “Hurts So Good,” “Small Town” and “Pink Houses.” He’s also promising to break out tracks he hasn’t performed live in nearly a decade, like “R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A. (A Salute To 60’s Rock),” “I Need a Lover,” “Wild Night” and “Ain’t Even Done With the Night.”
A complete list of dates can be found at Mellencamp.com.
Zendaya attends ‘The Odyssey’ photocall at the IET Building: Savoy Place on July 5, 2026, in London, England. (Shane Anthony Sinclair/Getty Images)
Zendaya is opening up about her first day on set of Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey.
In a recent appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, the actress said she could not even open her mouth to speak her first lines of dialogue while filming in freezing conditions in Iceland. Zendaya, who plays Athena in the film, said that didn’t help ease her nerves over appearing in her first Nolan project.
“I had my lines and I wanted to have them so down. I psyched myself out a little bit,” Zendaya said. “It was particularly cold. It was in Iceland. My mouth was just frozen. There is nothing coming out.”
The actress continued, saying, “My mouth would not move. Literally. It came out like, ‘Blah blah blah.’ So embarrassing.”
She went on to say that showing up “was such a pleasure and a gift to be able to share scenes with people you admire.”
“Part of you has to compartmentalize to a degree. Lock in, we’re working. But I was so moved and excited to be there and wanted to do my best work,” Zendaya said.
The Odyssey has a star-studded cast that also includes Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Lupita Nyong’o, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron and Jon Bernthal. It opens in movie theaters on July 17.
The film, of course, is an adaptation of Homer’s epic poem. It tells the story of Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, and his 10-year journey of returning home to his wife, Penelope, after the Trojan War.
Pearl Jam is auctioning off a signed poster to raise money in support of relief efforts in Venezuela, which has been devastated by a pair of powerful earthquakes that hit the country on June 24.
The poster is from PJ’s set at the 2021 Ohana Encore festival and is signed by all of the band members. It was created by the design duo Ames Bros, which was cofounded by bassist Jeff Ament’s brother Barry Ament.
“Every dollar raised from this auction will go directly to those in need,” reads a post to the Ames Bros Instagram. “A huge thank you to the incredible folks at Pearl Jam for generously donating this signed poster to make this fundraiser possible.”
Bidding is open now through Friday at 10 a.m. PT via AmesBrosShop.com.
Other bands who’ve announced their support for Venezuela include Metallica and Rush.
Neil Young has released updated versions of two songs from his 2006 album, Living With War.
According to a post on his Neil Young Archives website, the new versions are part of the Living With War archives collection. He notes that while the collection contains all the original performances, he’s made some “small changes within some songs.”
He notes in his post that “(t)he mix is refocused.” He adds, “The choir is huge and has a band. The hundred voices add incredible depth to the stories of Living With War.”
Released in May 2006, Living With War was Young’s 29th studio album. It contained songs criticizing the George W. Bush administration and the war in Iraq. The album received three Grammy Award nominations: best rock album, and best rock song and best solo rock vocal performance for the track “Lookin’ For a Leader.”
(MAINE) — Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner on Monday pushed back on an allegation of sexual assault, calling it “categorically false,” adding that he is “taking the time to reflect on the best path forward.”
In a report from Politico published on Monday, Jenny Racicot, a former girlfriend, alleged that Platner, while they were dating five years ago, forced her into having sex without her consent after she had repeatedly called for him to stop.
ABC News has not confirmed the contents of the Politico story.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
President Donald Trump walks over to Marine One after landing in Air Force One on July 03, 2026 at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
(WASHINGTON) — President Donald Trump confirmed on Monday that he is constructing a granite helipad for Marine One on the White House South Lawn, and said it will be paid for by Sikorsky Aircraft, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, which makes helicopters that transport the president.
“So, now we’re building a helipad, a beautiful helipad, and it’s got the seal of the White House on it, in granite, in carved granite. It’s really a beautiful thing,” Trump said while taking reporter questions at an event in the Oval Office.
Trump said Sikorsky would pay for the construction.
“It’s about $5 or $6 million. They’re paying the full cost,” the president said.
A Lockheed Martin spokesperson, in a statement provided to ABC News, said the company “has a long history of supporting projects” in Washington, D.C., and across the country.
“This specific contribution was made to the Trust for the National Mall, the National Park Service’s non-profit organization,” the spokesperson said. “Our engagement with the federal government is guided by rigorous ethics and compliance standards and conducted in full accordance with all applicable laws and regulations.”
Lockheed Martin delivered a new fleet of Sikorsky helicopters to the Air Force in 2024, but the White House has had to keep using an older fleet for South Lawn departures and arrivals because they burn the grass. Trump on Monday said the helicopters not only singed the grass but also “ripped it out.”
The newer helicopters have been used when the president is away on travel.
A spokesperson for Sikorsky said in a statement that the new helicopter, a VH‑92A Patriot, “is a recognizable patriotic asset known around the globe for safety, security and reliability.”
The U.S. Navy awarded Sikorsky Aircraft a $1.24 billion contract to replace the Marine One helicopter fleet. The deal was agreed to under President Barack Obama’s administration.
“It brings increased capabilities for the no‑fail mission supporting the Commander‑in‑Chief around the world. The helicopter delivers increased performance and reduced maintenance costs and time over the current fleet of presidential helicopters,” the Sikorsky spokesperson said.
The helipad will be Trump’s latest construction project at the White House.
The East Wing was demolished last year to make way for construction of Trump’s massive White House ballroom. The ballroom addition has sparked numerous legal challenges.
Trump installed plaques underneath portraits of presidents at the White House — dubbed the “Presidential Walk of Fame” — along the West Wing Colonnade.
He also paved over the grass at the White House Rose Garden to create a patio with tables, and installed two massive flagpoles on the North and South lawns. More recently, scaffolding was erected for restoration work on the building’s stone columns.
Trump commented on the work while hosting a lunch at the new Rose Garden Club.
“A lot of love is being put in the White House,” the president said.
ABC News’ Alexandra Hutzler contributed to this report.
The flooded interior at a BJ’s Wholesale Club is seen following a partial roof collapse at the store in Ocean Township, New Jersey, July 6, 2026. (Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office)
(OCEAN TOWNSHIP, N.J.) — The roof of a BJ’s Wholesale Club in New Jersey partially collapsed during heavy rain on Monday, temporarily entrapping two people who were able to safely escape, authorities said.
No injuries have been reported following the incident at the big-box store in Ocean Township, authorities said.
Video from the store’s security camera captured the collapse, showing a portion of the roof fall near the bakery section as a deluge of water flooded the interior. Local officials have confirmed they are looking at the video as part of an investigation into the incident.
Multiple agencies responded to the store around 11:16 a.m. ET following reports of the partial roof collapse, authorities said. There were 27 people inside the store at the time, including two who became partially entrapped but were able to free themselves and safely leave, according to local authorities.
First responders conducted a “comprehensive search” of the building, and a drone and K-9 teams were also involved in the search effort to ensure no one remained inside, the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office and Ocean Township Police Department said in a joint statement.
The collapse occurred as heavy rain pummeled the area, resulting in “extreme flooding,” the sheriff’s office said. Up to six inches of rain was reported in the area over the past 24 hours, with most of the rain falling since early Monday morning.
“This incident is another reminder of how quickly severe weather can create dangerous and unpredictable conditions,” Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden said in a statement about the collapse. “We commend all first responders who worked with urgency under challenging circumstances. Despite the ongoing flooding and severe weather affecting our communities, all worked seamlessly together to ensure everyone was safely accounted for.”
ABC News has reached out to BJ’s Wholesale Club for comment.
Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners Director Thomas Arnone commended the “swift response” by agencies in the incident while urging residents to stay alert for updates regarding flash flooding and other storm-related damage in the area.
The heavy rain that was occurring at the time of the roof collapse has since ended, though additional rounds of rain are possible through the evening hours.
A flood watch remains in effect until 8 p.m. ET Monday in Monmouth County, according to the National Weather Service.
Lauren Bennett of G.R.L performs onstage during the GIRL CULT Festival at The Fonda Theatre on August 20, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Scott Dudelson/WireImage)
Lauren Bennett, a member of the girl group G.R.L. who lent her vocals to the LMFAO hit “Party Rock Anthem,” has died. She was 37.
Her G.R.L. bandmates released a statement on Instagram Monday, writing, “It is with great sadness that we share the passing of our beloved Lauren. Our hearts are broken, and we cannot begin to express how much she meant to us.”
The statement continued, “We will forever cherish the love, laughter, and countless memories she gave us. Her beautiful spirit touched so many lives, and she will be deeply missed and forever loved. Rest peacefully, sweet Lauren. You will always be in our hearts.”
The British singer began her career as part of the girl group Paradiso Girls, formed by Pussycat Dolls founder Robin Antin. Their debut single “Patron Tequila,” featuring Eve and Lil’ Jon, hit #3 on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart in 2009.
After that group disbanded, Bennett joined G.R.L. The group’s debut single, “Vacation,” was featured on the Smurfs 2 soundtrack. The group was also featured on Pitbull’s 2014 song “Wild Wild Love.” G.R.L. disbanded shortly after member Simone Battle died in 2014, but reformed in 2016.
Bennett’s feature on the LMFAO song “Party Rock Anthem” in 2011 became her first #1 single.
A cause of death for Bennett has not yet been given.
Stella Lefty’s ‘Is This Heaven?’ EP (Atlantic Outpost)
Now that newcomer Stella Lefty’s got a smash hit with “Boston,” fans are getting “Good at Leaving.”
“i lurv this song and i hope u do tooooo,” she said on her socials, as she released the fan favorite after debuting the up-tempo groove at recent shows.
It’s her first new music since her debut EP, Is This Heaven?, dropped in May.
Meanwhile, “Boston” is now at #5 on Billboard‘s Hot Country Songs tally, and is in the top 15 on both the Hot 100 and Country Airplay charts.
“Something to Lose,” her duet with significant other Vincent Mason, has also cracked the Hot 100.
Currently in London for a Monday show, Stella plays Dublin on Thursday and Amsterdam on Saturday.
Rapper Drake is seen courtside during first half a game between the Toronto Raptors and the Golden State Warriors at Scotiabank Arena on January 13, 2025, in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)
Drake gave one of his fans the surprise of a lifetime when he expressed his gratitude for her support during a TikTok Live.
Speaking to Abi on her TikTok Live through her Champagnemamiabi account, he said, “I respect you, you always show love. Been riding. So I just wanted to say hello.”
“You’re my GOAT,” she replied.
“Bro, this is such a crazy experience,” she added, before asking if anyone was screen recording the chat. “OMG! Drake I’d give you a hug right now. This is crazy.”
“It’s love,” Drake said, blowing kisses. “I just want to tell you thank you, thanks for always riding.”
“I will always ride,” Abi said.
“Much love, nice to meet you finally,” Drake concluded.
Following his sign-off, Abi said, “Oh my f****** God, guys. I’m gonna cry.”
